'The Hungarian Ruthenians are perhaps the most backward; they are for the most part very poor, living in log cabins without chimneys, and are inclined it is said, to drink to excess.'  Changes of land tenure introduced on the liberation of the serfs in 1848, by which cash payment was substituted for payment in kind, and common pastures and forest lands became the private property of the landlords, partly account for this impoverishment.'

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Economically the Ruthene is hampered by generations of want and illiteracy. He is conservative in his customs and poverty-stricken, while three persons out of four above the age of six are illiterate.  Nevertheless, when removed to such a country as Canada, the Ruthene becomes a successful farmer.'

The above quotes are taken from a handbook  on 'Hungarian Ruthenia' published in 1920 by the British Foreign Office for the Paris Peace Conference.  The British Foreign Office defined  'Hungarian Ruthenia'  as comprising of   the counties of Máramaros, Ugocsa and Bereg.  The total number of emigrants during the period 1901-1910 from these counties was 29, 000 who were distributed as follows.

Nationalities   Ruthenes   Magyars     Germans    Romanians

                             49%              39%              9%               2%

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 Emigration Destinations  Romania 4%       America 95%

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Total population  of Máramaros, Bereg and Ugocsa counties per 1910 census was 686, 071. Around 90% of the population depended on agriculture for a livelihood and there were few other industries.  Medical services were limited. Illiteracy was rife. There were no no secondary schools in the Rusyn language. The natural increase in population of 'Hungarian Ruthenia'  in the decade 1901-1910  was around 13%.  Likewise there was a similar figure of 13.3% population increase in Ruthenian areas of Slovakia.  Net  emigration from the region  is estimated at 4.5%  in the decade 1901-1910.